[wxqc] Pros and Cons On OSI WMR-968

[Paul Grace]

OMG.  I can feel your pain... 

-----Original Message-----
From: wxqc-bounces at lists.gladstonefamily.net
[mailto:wxqc-bounces at lists.gladstonefamily.net] On Behalf Of Isaac Kishk
(CW6261)
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 12:05
To: Discussion of weather data quality issues
Subject: Re: [wxqc] Pros and Cons On OSI WMR-968

I've had the OSI wmr-968 for over a year now.  My various complaints range
from idiotic support to insanely stupid engineering.

- The rain bucket doesn't "clear" its last reading for 2 hours after.
so you could have a rainfall rate of .16in/hr for 2 hrs, while it was only a
5min shower. RMA'd... turns out that the way it was designed.
- the solar panel on my anemometer stopped working, which caused it to run
on batteries.  I attempted to remove the panel to drain it and reseal it,
but it was manufactured in such a way that removal is impossible w/out
destroying.  The leads from the solar panels are hotglued on the opposite
side of the plastic housing you unscrew.  so unscrewing it and slowly
pulling it apart pulled the wires. RMA woulda taken 6 months. whatever, i
attached my own panel.
- the solar panel on my rain bucket decided to just stop working out of the
blue. RMA'd.. works fine now.
- my thermohydrometer started reading 10-15oC extremes out of the blue.
turns out it had rust in it from condensation.  RMA'd, bought anotehr one in
the interim.
- the main base unit makes a loud "television" type barely audible tone when
the backlight is on.  Bought a second one for my office, same problem.
- you cant disable the loud beeps on the base unit (unless you cut the leads
to the speaker).

When dealing with support, they are happy to help, you just have to play CSR
roulette to find someone who knows what "anemometer" is.
Once you find them, they will gladly do your RMA.  When you ask for an ETA,
that's another story.  The products are almost ALWAYS backordered.  they use
some outfit in china to mass produce them in spurts.  instead of stocking a
warehouse, they only order enough to "cover" the backorders and RMAs.  I
ended up ebaying a hydrothermometer because they had a 4 month wait on a
new one.
crazy.

I'm the type that doesn't mind an occasional glitch, but I wish I spent the
extra money for a real system, not some radio shack "good enough" system.
feel free to email me directly if you need more details on my setup or any
of the situations I described.

On 6/11/07, Rory <amsoiltek at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi gang, I'm looking to put up a station and have been comparing both 
> the ProVantage and the OSI units.
> Anyone have any feedback on the WMR-968 I know it's a lot less than 
> the Davis gear and I know you get what you pay for.
>
> Thanks for your input.
>
>
> Rory
>
>
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